CatsPause.com - UK blanks Miami in season opener

September 5, 2009

Richard Skinner
Special to CatsPause.com

Watch UK-Miami Video Highlights Here!

CINCINNATI, Ohio - It was certainly a more complete opening-game performance from the 2009 Kentucky football team than in 2008.

Even though the Cats of course beat rival Louisville, 27-2, in last season's opener, it was almost primarily because of the defense, which scored two touchdowns, set up a third and held the Cardinals to just 205 yards total offense.

Saturday's 2009 season-opening 42-0 win over Miami (Ohio) before a crowd of 41,037 at Paul Brown Stadium came thanks to impressive performances on both sides of the ball - especially after a scoreless first quarter. It was UK's 15th consecutive non-conference victory, which is the second longest streak in the nation.

After the scoreless first quarter in which UK had just 64 yards offense and four first downs and allowed Miami 98 yards and five first downs, the Wildcats rolled up 424 yards and 25 first over the final three quarters and limited the RedHawks to just 90 yards and five first downs.

UK coach Rich Brooks blamed part of the slow start on the unknown factor of Miami playing its first game for a new head coach (Mike Haywood) and coaching staff.

"We were in a little bit of a mystery as to what they were going to do on both sides of the ball," said Brooks. "It took us awhile to figure it out. They gave us a lot of different fronts and once we were able to get a few passes down the field and get the ball on the perimeter everything else started to loosen up for us on offense."

The shutout was UK's first since blanking Vanderbilt, 25-0, on Nov. 16, 1996.

"I'm very pleased for our group that they get to get the first shutout since 1996," said Brooks. "I thought even though we lost a lot on defense I thought we had some excellent people to replace them and I think for the most part that proved out to be true today. The fact we were able to get ahead 21-0 at halftime, it kind of made them a one-dimensional team and it was a lot easier to play defense in the second half when we knew they had throw."

UK built that 21-0 lead thanks in part to a jump-start from the defense.

With the game still scoreless early in the second quarter Miami tried a flea-flicker in which senior quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh handed off to a running back, who turned and flipped it back to Raudabaugh, who then threw an ill-advised to no one in the middle of the field ... other than UK senior safety Calvin Harrison. He caught the interception at the UK 11 and returned it to the Miami 47.

"Those are the hardest ones to catch because they're almost too easy," said Harrison. "I saw them run into the line, then all of a sudden the line stopped and I saw the quarterback get the ball and just throw it and didn't see anyone around me."

UK junior quarterback Mike Hartline then capped the first of three straight quick touchdown drives by throwing a perfectly arched 27-yard TD pass to sophomore wide receiver Randall Cobb that Cobb caught on the run at the Miami 5 and strolled in for the score. Cobb finished with seven catches for 96 yards.

UK made it 14-0 on the next drive when junior tailback Derrick Locke swept around right end from 16 yards out. The play came from the first time UK lined up in the "Wildcat" formation with Cobb at quarterback. Locke, who finished with a game-high 61 yards, lined up in the left slot and came in motion before taking the handoff.

The Cats extended the lead to 21-0 on their next possession when Hartline threw a near perfect 21-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-5 junior wide receiver Chris Matthews, who out-jumped a Miami defender in the right corner of the end zone. Hartline went 4-of-4 for 69 of the 71 yards on the drive.

UK's three scoring drives covered 47, 58 and 71 yards and took just 1:18, 2:37 and 2:46 respectively.

"I told the guys on defense that as long as they kept giving us great chances with field position and turnovers we'd get it done," said Hartline, who finished the first half by completing 14 of 21 passes for 163 yards, including going 9 of 11 for 125 yards in the second quarter alone. "Their presence out there gives us the best chance to win."

Hartline played just one series into the fourth quarter and finished 18 of 27 for 222 yards. The offense took the opening possession of the third quarter and marched 80 yards in nine plays in only 3:30 with Cobb taking the snap out of the 'Wildcat' formation and racing 11 yards off right guard on a 3rd-and-4 play to give the Cats a 28-0 lead.

Senior cornerback Trevard Lindley upped it to 35-0 by returning a Raudabaugh interception 25 yards for a touchdown with 7:28 left in the quarter. It was Lindley's 10th career interception, tying him for fourth on the school's all-time list, and the second TD return in his career, and came after he had earlier had a potential interception ricochet off his shoulder pads in the first quarter and drop a potential interception in the second quarter.

Junior Moncell Allen finished the scoring with nine-yard TD run a little over a minute into the fourth quarter. He rushed for 48 yards on the drive and finished the game with 57 yards on eight carries.

"There were individual plays in different situations that I wasn't totally happy with, but I'm just excited to get a win and we got in a good fashion," said Brooks. "We can learn from this and we've got a week off to try and correct some of the things we need to correct."

Kentucky NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

FEATURED PRODUCT